Machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles

ABSTRACT

A machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, comprising a supporting footing which is associated with a rolling track for a cradle-like structure which is integral with a seat provided with a sitting portion that is at least partly movable with respect to a backrest thereof; elements are provided for tilting the cradle-like structure which are connected kinematically to the sitting portion for the rolling of the cradle-like structure on the rolling track, as a consequence of the movement of the legs toward the upper body of the user, between an inactive position, in which the backrest is substantially oriented vertically, and a maximum effort position, in which the backrest is substantially reclined backwards, and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, in the field of sports apparatuses, gymnastic machines are known which are capable of assisting body movements in order to intensify the exercising of specific muscular groups.

Of these machines, we can identify machines which are capable of increasing the resistance of the movement by means of weights and lever mechanisms which use, as a resisting force, the weight of the athlete who is using it.

For example, machines are known for exercising the abdominal muscles which have a seat which is provided with a sitting portion and backrest which are mutually pivoted to each other, one of which is fixed to a supporting structure and the other one of which can move. Depending on the abdominal muscles to be exercised, lower, upper or oblique, such backrest and sitting portion are connected by way of systems of cables and pulleys to a weight the intensity of which is adjustable, in such a manner as to increase or decrease the difficulty of the exercise.

Differently, with regard to machines that take advantage of the weight of the athlete as a resisting force, machines are known which are intended to exercise only the pectoral and back muscles, and the upper and lower limbs.

In fact, if it is desired to exercise the abdominal muscles without availing of machines that are provided with weights, generally one performs floor exercises on mats or on adapted benches.

In this way, starting from a supine position it is possible, by raising the legs or the upper body, to exercise respectively the lower abdominal muscles and the upper or oblique abdominal muscles simply by adding a rotation of the upper body to the movement just described. In fact, by doing this, the weight of the part of the body in motion gives rise to a resisting moment which opposes the movement itself.

Such exercising technique is not devoid of drawbacks, among which there is the fact that as one performs the exercise, the lever arm between the line of action, along which the weight of the part of the body in motion acts, and the fulcrum, about which it is caused to rotate, decreases, as a consequence decreasing the intensity of the effort of the exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention consists in providing a machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, which takes advantage of the weight of the athlete as a force of resistance of the exercise while keeping the intensity of the effort constant over the entire exercise.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention consists in providing a machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, which is simple and intuitive to use.

This aim and this and other objects which will become more evident hereinafter are achieved by a machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, characterized in that it comprises a supporting footing which is associated with a rolling track for a cradle-like structure which is integral with a seat provided with a sitting portion that is at least partly movable with respect to the backrest of said seat as a consequence of the movement of the legs toward the upper body of a user who is seated on said seat while keeping said upper body resting on said backrest, means also being provided for the tilting of said cradle-like structure, which are connected kinematically to said sitting portion for the rolling of said cradle-like structure on said rolling track as a consequence of the movement of said legs toward said upper body, between an inactive position, in which said backrest is substantially oriented vertically, and a maximum effort position, in which said backrest is substantially reclined backwards, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are three side elevation views, partially sectional, in sequence, of the machine for exercises shown in FIG. 1 during its use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures, the machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting footing 2 which is provided by a lattice structure 3 which is provided with feet 4 for resting on the ground and with a footboard 5.

Between the lattices of the supporting footing 2, a rolling track 6 for a cradle-like structure 7 is accommodated which is integral with a seat 8 provided with a sitting portion 9 that is at least partly movable with respect to the backrest 10 of the seat 8 as a consequence of the movement of the legs 11 toward the upper body 12 of a user 13 who is seated on the seat 8 while keeping the upper body 12 resting on the backrest 10.

More precisely, the rolling track 6 is defined by two straight guides 14 which are arranged below the cradle-like structure 10 at two curved bars 15 which define the cradle-like structure 7.

In order to ensure correct rolling between the cradle-like structure 10 and the straight guides 14, means are provided for centering the curved bars 15 on the straight guides 14, the means consisting of centering holes and pins 21 a which are defined on the mutually facing surfaces of the curved bars 15 and of the straight guides 14 and of shoulders 21 b which are defined laterally with respect to the straight guides 14.

Advantageously, means 16 are provided for tilting the cradle-like structure 7 which are connected kinematically to the sitting portion 9 for the rolling of the cradle-like structure 10 on the rolling track 6, as a consequence of the movement of the legs 11 toward the upper body 12 of the user 13, between an inactive position, in which the backrest 8 is substantially oriented vertically, and a maximum effort position, in which the backrest 8 is substantially reclined backwards, and vice versa.

More precisely, the sitting portion 9 comprises a first portion 17 which is integral with and adjacent to the backrest 10 and a second portion 18 which is articulated with respect to the first portion 17 by way of two first linkages 19 which are pivoted, with their ends 19 a and 19 b, laterally to the portions 17 and 18 of the sitting portion 9.

In order to bind the legs 11 of the user 13 to the second portion 18, the latter is provided with a fixing belt 20 which is adapted to be fastened around the legs 11 of the user 13 so as to allow the movement of the second portion 18 with respect to the first portion 17.

In the same manner, in order to enable the user 13 to grip the backrest 10 during the performance of the exercise, so as to keep his/her upper body 12 resting on the backrest 10, grip handles 22 are provided which are associated with the seat 8 proximate to the upper part of the backrest 10.

The tilting means 16 comprise a second linkage 23 which is pivoted at its ends 23 a and 23 b, respectively, to the second portion 18 of the sitting portion 9 and to an end portion 24 a of a first lever 24 pivoted, at a central portion 24 b thereof, to the cradle-like structure 7.

At its other end portion 24 c, the first lever 24 is pivoted to the seat 8 substantially at the intersection defined between the backrest 10 and the sitting portion 9.

The tilting means 16 moreover comprise a third linkage 25 which is pivoted at its ends 25 a and 25 b, respectively, to the end portion 24 b of the first lever 24 and to an end portion 26 a of a second lever 26.

Such second lever 26 is pivoted, at a central portion 26 b thereof, to the cradle-like structure 7 at a central portion of the backrest 10 and is pivoted, at its other end portion 26 c, to a fourth linkage 27 which in turn is pivoted at its ends 27 a and 27 b, respectively, to the second lever 26 and to the rolling track 6.

Advantageously, means 28 are also provided for the adjustment of the inclination of the rolling track 6 in order to vary the extent of the effort required to perform the gymnastic exercise.

More specifically, such adjustment means 28 comprise a control lever 29 which is pivoted to the supporting footing 2 and is associated with a fifth linkage 30 pivoted to a crank 31 which is integral in rotation with an actuation shaft of pushers 33 which are arranged below the rolling track 6 at an end portion 6 a thereof, i.e. at the portion that is pivoted to the fourth linkage 27, so as to be able to lift it by an extent that is proportional to the rotation of the control lever 29; in fact, the control lever 29 is provided with a position selector that makes it movable between a plurality of positions which correspond to different inclinations of the rolling track 6 so as to vary the extent of the effort required to perform the gymnastic exercise.

Conveniently, at the other end portion 6 b thereof, the rolling track 6 is pivoted to the supporting footing 2.

In more detail, the pushers 33 consist of two rollers which are slideably accommodated in two slots 34 arranged below the two straight guides 14.

Conveniently, for allowing the movement of the linkages and of the levers, all of the pivoting axes and all of the pivoting points of the tilting means 16 and of the adjustment means 28 are oriented along directions which are parallel to the oscillation axis of the cradle-like structure 7 with respect to the rolling track 6.

Operation of the machine 1 for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, is described hereinafter.

After stepping onto the footboard 5, the user 13 sits down on the seat 8, fastening the fixing belt 20 around his/her legs 11 at the thighs and gripping the grip handles 22.

Subsequently, the user 13 raises his/her legs 11 and moves them toward the upper body 12, thus pulling with them the second portion 18 of the sitting portion 9.

In this way, the second portion 18 of the sitting portion 9 pulls the second linkage 23 which rotates the first lever 24 which, by way of the third linkage 25, rotates the second lever 26 thus lowering the cradle-like structure 7 with respect to the rolling track 6 thanks to the coupling provided by the fourth linkage 27, substantially proportionally to the rotation imposed on the second portion 18 of the sitting portion 9 with respect to the backrest 10.

The direct consequence of the mechanism described is to keep the resisting moment that the user has to defeat while performing the exercise substantially constant.

The more the rolling track 6 is reclined, the lower the effort necessary to perform the exercise.

For this reason, the adjustment means 28, by acting on the inclination of the rolling track 6, make it possible to intensify or reduce the intensity of the effort of the exercise.

In practice it has been found that the machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, is capable of taking advantage of the weight of the athlete as a resisting force of the exercise while keeping the intensity of the effort constant over the entire exercise.

Another advantage of the machine for gymnastic exercises, according to the invention, consists in that it is intuitive to use and makes it possible to exercise the abdominal muscles in a simple and effective manner.

The machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, according to the present invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2011A002184 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine for gymnastic exercises, particularly for exercising the abdominal muscles, further comprising a supporting footing which is associated with a rolling track for a cradle-like structure which is integral with a seat provided with a sitting portion that is at least partly movable with respect to the backrest of said seat as a consequence of the movement of the legs toward the upper body of a user who is seated on said seat while keeping said upper body resting on said backrest, means also being provided for the tilting of said cradle-like structure, which are connected kinematically to said sitting portion for the rolling of said cradle-like structure on said rolling track as a consequence of the movement of said legs toward said upper body, between an inactive position, in which said backrest is substantially oriented vertically, and a maximum effort position, in which said backrest is substantially reclined backwards, and vice versa.
 2. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the inclination of said rolling track in order to vary the extent of the effort required to perform the gymnastic exercise.
 3. The machine according to claim 1, said sitting portion comprises a first portion which is integral with and adjacent to said backrest and a second portion which is articulated with respect to said first portion by way of two first linkages which are pivoted, with their ends, laterally to said portions of said sitting portion, said second portion being provided with a fixing belt which is adapted to be fastened around the legs of said user so as to allow the movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion.
 4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said tilting means comprise a second linkage which is pivoted at its ends, respectively, to said second portion of said sitting portion and to an end portion of a first lever, said first lever being pivoted, at a central part thereof, to said cradle-like structure and being pivoted, at its other end portion, to said seat substantially at the intersection defined between said backrest and said sitting portion, a third linkage being also provided which is pivoted, at its ends, respectively to said other end portion of said first lever and to an end portion of a second lever, said second lever being pivoted, at a central part thereof, to said cradle-like structure at a central portion of said backrest and being pivoted, at its other end portion, to a fourth linkage, which is pivoted, at ends thereof, respectively to said second lever and to said rolling track.
 5. The machine according to claim 1, said rolling track comprises two straight guides which are arranged below said cradle-like structure at two curved bars which define said cradle-like structure.
 6. The machine according to claim 5, further comprising means for centering said curved bars on said straight guides, said means consisting of centering holes and pins which are defined on the mutually facing surfaces of said curved bars and of said straight guides and of shoulders which are defined laterally with respect to said straight guides.
 7. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising grip handles which are associated with said seat proximate to the upper part of said backrest.
 8. The machine according to claim 2, wherein said adjustment means comprise a control lever which is pivoted to said supporting footing and is associated with a fifth linkage which is pivoted to a crank which is integral in rotation with an actuation shaft of pushers arranged below said rolling track at an end portion thereof so as to be able to lift it by a vertical extent that is proportional to the rotation of said control lever, said rolling track being pivoted to said supporting footing at its other end portion.
 9. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said control lever is movable between a plurality of positions, which correspond to different inclinations of said rolling track so as to vary the extent of the effort required to perform the gymnastic exercise.
 10. The machine according to claim 2, wherein all the pivoting axes and all the pivoting points of said tilting means and of said adjustment means are oriented along directions which are parallel to the oscillation axis of said cradle-like structure with respect to said rolling track. 